At least seven candidates are expected to battle it out for Malawi Congress Party (MCP) first vice president position at the party’s convention slated for August this year.
Top party officials confided in The Daily Times at the weekend that the seven are Speaker Catherine Gotani Hara, Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu, Homeland Security Minister Ken Zikhale Ng’oma, engineer Vitumbiko Mumba, veteran politician Brown Mpinganjira and members Dean Lungu and Ahmed Dasu.
The winner of the position is likely to be President Lazarus Chakwera’s running mate in the event that MCP goes solo for the September 2025 presidential election.
Gotani Hara was not immediately available to confirm her interest in the MCP second top position.
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The officials that confided in us said Kunkuyu has been endorsed by the Southern Region.
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The Information Minister, who is also official government spokesperson, confirmed his interest in the position.
“For the purpose of your story, I can confirm that I will contest for the vice president position at the convention, but I will make a pronouncement at an appropriate time,” he said.
Kunkuyu has been among the most active MCP figures in the Southern Region after the death of the party’s vice president Sidik Mia in January 2021.
When contacted Sunday, youthful Mumba could neither confirm nor deny the reports.
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Zikhale Ng’oma and Mpinganjira were also not readily available for comment.
Another position which is expected to be hotly contested is that of MCP secretary general, where incumbent Eisenhower Mkaka faces Finance Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda, Chris Chaima Banda, Albert Mbawala and Alex Major.
Tight competition is also expected on the position of director of youth where incumbent Richard Chimwendo Banda faces Alfred Jiya, Steven Baba Malondera, Ishmael Onani, Dickson Chaitanya, Emmanuel Thembachako and Aunesto Chisisito.
Trade Minister Sosten Gwengwe is expected to battle it out with Rhino Chiphiko and Morgan MacPherson Chirombo for the position of the party’s treasurer general.
Equally interesting will be the position of Director of Women where Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda will face Gender Minister Jean Sendeza and former Lilongwe City mayor Juliana Kaduya.
MCP spokesperson Ezekiel Ching’oma faces competition from Lilongwe South lawmaker Peter Dimba for the position of publicity secretary.
Last week, Ching’oma told The Daily Times that currently, the party has no official list of people vying for positions as it is yet to come up with nomination forms.
He added that once the process is done, party members will be dully notified.
“We are yet to come up nomination papers and once that is done, we are going to open it up to members. We have also elected a steering committee and that committee will be overseeing these things,” Ching’oma said.
Last month MCP Nec endorsed Chakwera as the party’s presidential candidate at the 2025 election.
That time, Mkaka said the party was, however, not stopping anyone from competing against the President at the convention.
